What was the purpose with which Sir William Wedderburn and W.S. Caine had set up the Indian Parliamentary Committee in 1893?
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- ATo agitate for Indian political reforms in the House of Commons
- BTo campaign for the entry of Indians into the Imperial Judiciary
- CTo facilitate a discussion on India's Independence in the British Parliament
- DTo agitate for the entry of eminent Indians into the British Parliament
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Answer: (A) To agitate for Indian political reforms in the House of Commons
Sir William Wedderburn (a retired ICS officer sympathetic to India) and W.S. Caine set up the Indian Parliamentary Committee in 1893 in London to AGITATE FOR INDIAN POLITICAL REFORMS in the House of Commons.
This was during the era of 'Moderate' nationalism when early Congress leaders (Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Wedderburn himself was Congress President in 1889) believed in working WITHIN the British system — petitioning Parliament, presenting facts, and appealing to British sense of justice.
The Committee's purpose:
Raise Indian issues in the British Parliament,
lobby British MPs to support reforms for India,
counter the government's claims that Indians were satisfied with British rule.
This was NOT about:
- (b) Getting Indians into British courts
- (c) Discussing full independence (too radical for 1893 moderates)
- (d) Getting Indians elected to British Parliament
Context: Dadabhai Naoroji himself became a British MP in 1892 — but the Committee's goal was reform for INDIA, not representation IN Britain.
The Indian Parliamentary Committee was the main British organization lobbying for Indian political reforms in the 1890s, established by sympathetic British officials and Congress moderates who believed in working within the colonial system.
This represents the 'Moderate Phase' strategy of early nationalism - petitioning the British Parliament and appealing to British sense of justice rather than demanding independence or using confrontational methods.
Indian Parliamentary Committee (1893)
Modern Indian History Indian Parliamentary Committee Sir William Wedderburn W.S. Caine 1893
Indian Parliamentary Committee (1893): Purpose & Strategy
Indian Parliamentary Committee established in 1893 by Sir William Wedderburn and W.S. Caine
Primary purpose: agitate for Indian political reforms in the House of Commons
Part of moderate nationalism strategy - working within British constitutional system
Located in London to directly lobby British MPs and counter government claims
Context & Purpose
The Indian Parliamentary Committee was established during the moderate phase of Indian nationalism when leaders believed in constitutional agitation rather than confrontation. Sir William Wedderburn (retired ICS officer and Congress President 1889) and W.S. Caine created this London-based body to:
Raise Indian issues directly in British Parliament
Lobby British MPs to support reforms for India
Counter government claims that Indians were satisfied with British rule
Key Details
Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
Founders | Sir William Wedderburn (retired ICS officer) & W.S. Caine |
Year | 1893 |
Location | London |
Primary Goal | Agitate for Indian political reforms in House of Commons |
Strategy | Constitutional agitation, lobbying British MPs |
Context | Moderate nationalism era - working within British system |
Trap: Option D suggests getting Indians INTO British Parliament - but committee's goal was reforms FOR India, not Indian representation IN Britain
Trap: Option C mentions 'Independence' - too radical for 1893 moderates who sought reforms, not complete independence
Trap: Don't confuse with Dadabhai Naoroji becoming British MP in 1892 - that was individual achievement, committee had different purpose
Moderate Nationalism (1870-1905)
Modern Indian History moderate nationalism political reforms
Moderate Phase of Indian Nationalism: Methods & Beliefs
Moderate nationalism dominated 1870-1905 - believed in working within British system
Methods: petitions, prayers, protests - constitutional agitation, not confrontation
Key leaders: Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Surendranath Banerjee
Believed British would grant reforms if presented with facts and rational arguments
Core Philosophy
Moderate nationalists believed in the inherent justice of British rule and that reforms could be achieved through constitutional means. They had faith that presenting facts, statistics, and rational arguments would convince the British government to grant political concessions to Indians.
Moderate Methods vs Goals
Method | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
Petitions & Memorials | Present Indian grievances formally | Annual Congress petitions to Parliament |
Constitutional Agitation | Work within British legal framework | Indian Parliamentary Committee lobbying |
Public Meetings | Create awareness, gather support | Congress annual sessions |
Press Campaigns | Educate masses, influence British opinion | Newspapers like The Hindu, Bengalee |
Statistical Documentation | Prove economic drain with data | Dadabhai's 'Poverty and Un-British Rule' |
Key Moderate Leaders
Dadabhai Naoroji: 'Grand Old Man of India', developed Drain Theory, became first Indian British MP (1892)
Gopal Krishna Gokhale: Mentor to Gandhi, emphasized education and social reform alongside political reform
Surendranath Banerjee: 'Uncrowned King of Bengal', founded Indian National Association (1876)
Trap: Moderates sought reforms, not independence in this phase - independence became goal only after 1905
Trap: Don't confuse moderate methods (petitions) with extremist methods (boycott, swadeshi) that came after 1905
Trap: Moderates had faith in British justice - this distinguishes them from later extremists who questioned British intentions
Sir William Wedderburn
Modern Indian History Sir William Wedderburn
Sir William Wedderburn: British Ally of Indian Nationalism
Retired ICS officer who became sympathetic to Indian nationalist cause
Congress President in 1889 - one of the few British presidents of early Congress
Co-founded Indian Parliamentary Committee (1893) to lobby in British Parliament
Background & Role
Sir William Wedderburn was a retired Indian Civil Service officer who developed strong sympathy for Indian political aspirations. Unlike most British officials, he actively supported Indian demands for political reforms and worked to bridge the gap between British administrators and Indian leaders.
Key Contributions
ICS Career: Served in British administration in India, gained firsthand knowledge of Indian conditions
Congress Leadership: Elected Congress President (1889) - demonstrated early Congress strategy of gaining British support
Parliamentary Committee: Co-founded committee in 1893 to represent Indian interests in British Parliament
Bridge Builder: Helped establish connections between Indian nationalist leaders and sympathetic British politicians
Trap: Don't assume all ICS officers were anti-Indian - some like Wedderburn became supporters of Indian nationalism
Trap: Early Congress had several British presidents - this was part of moderate strategy to show loyalty to Crown
Early Political Associations (Pre-Congress)
Modern Indian History
Early Political Associations: Foundation of Indian Nationalism
Pre-Congress organizations laid groundwork for Indian National Congress formation in 1885
Most were regional in character - Bengal, Bombay, Madras presidencies had separate associations
Focused on constitutional methods - petitions, public meetings, press campaigns
Key role in creating political consciousness among educated Indians
Major Early Political Associations
Organization | Year | Founder/Leader | Region | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Landholders' Society | 1838 | Dwarkanath Tagore | Bengal | First political association - landlord interests |
Bengal British India Society | 1843 | George Thompson | Bengal | Merged with Landholders' Society (1851) |
Bombay Association | 1852 | Jagannath Shankarsheth | Bombay | Representation of Indian interests |
Madras Native Association | 1852 | Gazulu Lakshminarasu | Madras | Civil service reforms |
Indian Association | 1876 | Surendranath Banerjee | Bengal | All-India character, ICS age limit issue |
Bombay Presidency Association | 1885 | Pherozeshah Mehta | Bombay | Political reforms, founded same year as Congress |
Evolution Pattern
# Early Political Associations
## Regional Character
- Bengal associations
- Bombay associations
- Madras associations
- Limited to presidency towns
## Methods Used
- Petitions to government
- Public meetings
- Press campaigns
- Memorial submissions
## Key Issues
- ICS age limit
- Press freedom
- Legislative representation
- Economic policies
## Legacy
- Trained political leaders
- Created political consciousness
- Laid Congress foundation
- Established moderate methods